Charles Raymond Davis v. United States

After a trial by jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division, Charles R. Davis, also known as Robert E. Nelson, appellant herein, was convict ed of knowingly transporting a stolen motor vehicle in interstate commerce, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2312 . Appellant made a timely appeal to this court which has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 , 1294.

Appellant summarized his grounds for appeal as “(1) the evidence was insufficient for conviction as a matter of law; (2) from the evidence presented the only conclusion that can be drawn is that appellant was legally insane; (3) prejudicial error was committed by the introduction of a certified copy of felony conviction and references made and the introduction of hearsay evidence charging the appellant with the commission of criminal acts.”

As to his first contention, the record shows that Hubert R. Rowland was the owner of the automobile in question. On the evening of December 24, 1964, he parked the car near a church in Blythe, California, and attended services therein. When he emerged from the church the car was gone. He notified the Police Department in Blythe that his car…